A legendary fishing trip on Lake Henshaw that included the late San Diego Union-Tribune outdoor writer Rolla Williams, the late city lakes program manager Orville Ball and former Major League catcher Ray Boone led to the importation of Florida-strain largemouth bass here on May 7, 1959. Boone boasted about Florida bass, and Ball decided to try a “Florida Experiment,” importing 20,400 bass for Upper Otay Lake after it was chemically treated to clear all other fish.

The Florida Experiment was a huge success, a watershed event for bass fishing. It spawned a multimillion-dollar bass fishing industry in the state and contributed to the $1 billion bass fishing industry. The progeny of that original stocking went on to break fishing records throughout the West.

In all, 21 of the top 25 bass can trace their bloodlines back to that initial plant of Florida-strain bass at Upper Otay. The lake served as a bass hatchery for lakes throughout the West.

Today, the small lake – just 20 acres when full – serves as a catch-and-release fishery. Anglers are restricted to artificial lures and barbless hook, a kind of Baby Barrett. It is frequented by purists who fish it from shore or from float tubes. Ironically, there aren’t many big bass caught here anymore.